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Post by Graham on May 1, 2009 7:51:23 GMT
Cheers Wendy, as you say lets hope we get one that works first time.
We are nipping to Il'son this morning so we'll have a look to see if there are any shops selling them.
Graham
P.S. Il'son = Ilkeston when you are from round these parts.
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Post by niloc on May 1, 2009 21:44:35 GMT
Graham
If you haven't bought the dongle yet you may find that it is £10 more expensive in a Vodafone shop than on line.
Colin
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Post by Graham on May 2, 2009 8:34:24 GMT
Graham If you haven't bought the dongle yet you may find that it is £10 more expensive in a Vodafone shop than on line. Colin Cheers Colin, all the phone shops we went in didn't have one and we couldn't find a vodafone shop so we are going to have to resort to buying on line, hopefully it will come before the meet. Graham |
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Post by Graham on May 18, 2009 8:21:33 GMT
Well we are now a two dongle family, we finally got our Vodafone dongle, we ordered it online and it was out of stock so had to wait a week or so but it arrived the other day and we've tried it out and seems fine. Spent 4p so far.
We'll give it a good test this coming bank holiday weekend when we will be down in the West Country and visiting Ant for our annual service. We are keeping the T-Mobile dongle for a while until we are sure that the Vodafone is cheaper overall.
Graham
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Post by yamaha on May 19, 2009 13:25:30 GMT
I've just taken the plunge also!!
Went into the Vodafone shop today - and there is an offer on till the end of the month - £5 off the PAYG 1gb dongle - £34 instead of £39.
I see the Vodafone website is still quoting £39 for the package!!
I seriously considered the pay monthly scheme, with 3gb/month - but I honestly didn't think I would use that amount to make it viable - plus, if it was a cr*p service where you are, it wouldn't be a great loss of money, not like being tied into a contract would be.
Apparently, you need to top it up with £15 credit every 180 days - but you still keep any unused time from the last top-up. Seems ideal.
Mike
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Post by Graham on May 19, 2009 15:14:46 GMT
Well done Mike you got it £5 cheaper than us, typical we always miss out on a good deal.  Graham |
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Post by yamaha on May 19, 2009 22:35:47 GMT
Well, mixed reviews!! Tonight I tried to install said dongle - after a bit of faffing about it eventually installed its software, and opened it up to detect the device - only to tell me it couldn't find a sim card, and to install one!! It's already fitted into the dongle - so it looks like a return visit to the Vodafone shop is on the cards for tomorrow for them to sort it out!! Oh joy  Mike |
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Post by niloc on May 19, 2009 22:58:24 GMT
Hi Mike
You might want to check that 'top up every 180 days' . If you look at page one of this thread you will find a lot of discussion about this which seems to agree that the top up is unlimited by time, providing you use it at least once every couple of months. I have had mine since January so I will be a bit put out, to say the least, if it stops working while I am on holiday next month.
Colin
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Post by viv on May 20, 2009 19:52:14 GMT
I was told that it was not necessary to top up every 180 days. What they did say was that if i did not use the dongle for any 180 day period it would wipe out, blow up, self destruct, whatever! If I did not use it in any two month period it would need to be topped up to re-start, liven, whatever, but that the credit left from before top up would still be there.
We have managed to spend 84p now and have used it for e mails, newspapers in morning and a bit of searching for tourist information and somewhere to buy a new hook up to replace the one we left at Lickhill!!
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Post by yamaha on May 21, 2009 8:14:06 GMT
Hi Viv
Seems the story changes with every person you ask, doesn't it?
Still unable to install my dongle - tried it on both my laptops now, and it just sits there, stalled, trying to install this Microsoft .NET Framework.
I get out of that phase eventually, install the software, then it asks me to "install a Sim card" - it can't seem to find it's own in the dongle!!
All is not lost, however - I subscribed to the Vodafone forum, and read how to use just the sim card from the dongle in my 3G equiped Asus netbook - and that appears to be working OK now - only snag is, it runs in a different program to the Vodafone one, so I have no means of telling how much credit I've used, or my connection speed.....
Dunno whether to hang on to it, or take it back to the shop.
I must admit, it IS nice to connect without the rather fragile dongle sticking out the side - or hanging from the USB lead - I 'spose I'll just have to accept having spent £34 just to get a 1gb sim card - and stick the dongle in the cupboard with all the other "must haves"!!!!
Mike
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Post by Graham on May 21, 2009 10:17:40 GMT
Hi Mike
If you read back through this thread John and Wendy had problems with theirs and took it back to the shop, it transpired that it was a dodgy dongle and they changed it and have no problems now.
Graham
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Post by peteadams67 on May 21, 2009 20:37:09 GMT
IT wont work at the C & CC site at Lynton N Devon the only network there is Orange or O2 I decided to get my phone unlocked & carry 3 Sims with me Orange Vodafone & T-mobile.
Now Ive started keeping a record of networks for the sites We go to.
Best of luck with your Dongle
Pete
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Post by yamaha on May 22, 2009 20:29:47 GMT
LATEST NEWS Today I returned the Vodafone dongle to the shop for an exchange. No problems - he just swapped it over for a brand new one - maybe it wasn't the first time he'd had to do it............... Anyway, this time the software installed first time - then "please insert SIM card". So, I still don't have a dongle that works on my Asus - so will have to contend with using just the SIM card in the 3G modem slot. HoHum - what fun - keeps the old grey matter ticking over, I 'spose!! Mike |
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Post by Graham on May 24, 2009 16:09:20 GMT
Well here we are at Cheddar enjoying a glorious mini heatwave and I have to report that our Vodafone dongle is working like a treat. I've got a Virgin mobile and that is a very patchy signal but the Vodafone dongle connects ever time.
We have spent 42p so far and been here two days and for that we have done quite a bit of surfing so we are well pleased. It would have cost us £4 with the T-mobile dongle.
Also interested to see that they are knocking 25% of wifi at this site but it still comes in at an expensive £4.50 for 24 hours, perhaps they are having to reduce it due to no takers.
It was nice to catch up with Mike (Yamaha) and Sue who came to visit us on their quad bike (what a beast that is).
Graham
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lizzie
30+ posts.... a 2 wheeler!
Posts: 44
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Post by lizzie on May 24, 2009 19:26:51 GMT
Hi Graham
Glad you are enjoying your break in Cheddar or is it in Priddy?
I think I have mentioned before that I live between Wells and Glastonbury so we may exchange Roma waves! Unfortunately I am working all over the holiday weekend. It certainly was a beautiful day here today. I also have a Vodaphone dongle and am interested to hear that it works on the hills maybe due to the proximity to the mast on Penn Hill.
Still no joy with my netbook and forum but thanks for your ideas.
Lizzie
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Post by Graham on May 25, 2009 6:49:33 GMT
Hi Lizzie We are indeed at the C&CC campsite near Priddy, it was an absolutely gorgeous day yesterday, we didn't do a lot, just relaxed and enjoyed the lovely sunshine. Its cloudy this morning but we are off to Ant's for our annual service. I'm sorry you are still having trouble getting on the forum with your netbook and have had another thought but I'll put it in the original post in the Help section HEREGraham |
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Post by Pauline on May 25, 2009 7:14:10 GMT
It was nice to catch up with Mike (Yamaha) and Sue who came to visit us on their quad bike (what a beast that is). Graham yeah and the quad bike ;D |
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Post by yamaha on May 25, 2009 23:05:49 GMT
It was nice to catch up with Mike (Yamaha) and Sue who came to visit us on their quad bike (what a beast that is). Graham yeah and the quad bike ;D Hey you lot, lay off - I'm not THAT bad!!!! ;D Lovely to see you both on such a glorious day - tea and cake in the sunshine - what could be better!! Mike 'n Sue |
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Post by niloc on Jun 15, 2009 18:58:29 GMT
Just an update on the Vodafone dongle. I have had mine for six months now and have used it for both holiday weekends and sometimes during the week if I cannot get a broadband connection. So far it has used £3.25 of my original £15 of credit !
I can't believe it after two years of using WiFi where the average price seemed to be £6 for 24 hours. I will be away for three weeks so that will drive it up but I still estimate at least 18 months for my £15.
Colin
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Post by viv on Jun 18, 2009 23:40:22 GMT
We are just back from North Yorkshire moors and used the Vodaphone dongle to find some sites and just to catch up with News whilst away and reception was excellent and as fast as usual. Still only spent £2.30 so far. At this rate I will be using my initial top up for ever!
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paul
50+ posts.... 3 wheels on my wagon!
Posts: 54
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Post by paul on Jul 4, 2009 20:06:21 GMT
There's a very good internet magazine called Webuser and the current issue (No. 217, 2nd July 09, £2.10) has a big article on this topic. It's well worth reading if you want up-to-date information on the major service providers, hardware and background information. It's very much a consumer magazine by the way, not a geeky one. It covers both PAYG and monthly contract deals. This is their PAYG summary and there's a similar one for monthly too.  |
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